Low Blood Pressure

Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Remedies

Low Blood Pressure Treatment Remedies

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The contents of this app are provided for educational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. The information provided should not be considered as a substitute for the advice of a medical doctor or other healthcare professional.

What is Low Blood Pressure?

Measurements of blood pressure are taken in millimetres of mercury (abbreviated as mmHg).

If the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure are 100 mmHg and 80 mmHg respectively, the blood pressure is read as 100 over 80 (100/80).

Normal blood pressure should be between 90/60 and 140/90.

Blood pressure is not always constant; it may vary between heartbeats, depending on your breathing rhythm, physical condition, stress level, body position, or current medication.

Blood pressure is lowest during the night and rises sharply after waking up.

This reaction causes itching, hives, a swollen throat, and breathing problems as well.

A deficiency of certain nutrients such as folate and vitamins B-12 may also lead to low blood pressure.

A lack of these nutrients triggers off a condition that undermines the body’s ability to produce adequate amount of red blood cells.

This is a common cause of low blood pressure.

Some medications may also low blood pressure.

Such medications include diuretics, alpha blockers, beta blockers, and many others.

Diuretics (also known as water pills), include furosemide (Lasix) and hydrochlorothiazide.

Alpha blockers include labetalol and prazosin (Minipress) while beta blockers include atenolol, propranolol, and timolol.

All these may lead to low blood pressure.

Pramipexole (Mirapex), a drug for Parkinson's disease, has also been linked to low blood pressure.

A few antidepressants including imipramine (Tofranil), doxepin (Silenor), trimipramine (Surmontil), and protriptyline (Vivactil) are also responsible for some cases of low blood pressure.

Using tadalafil (Cialis) or sildenafil (Viagra) alongside heart medications may also lead to low blood pressure.

Low Blood Pressure Diagnosis

Diagnosis for low blood pressure focuses on finding the underlying cause of the condition, signs and symptoms.

This is necessary for correct treatment and identification of any other problem likely to cause low blood pressure.

Your doctor may recommend a number of tests to reach a diagnosis.

Such tests include blood pressure tests, blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), and many others.

A blood pressure test is measured using a pressure-measuring gauge and an inflatable arm cuff.

This test takes into consideration systolic pressure and diastolic pressure.

The doctor may order for blood tests to acquaint him with information regarding the patient’s overall health.

Blood tests may also reveal cases of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), anaemia, as well as diabetes, which may all lead to low blood pressure.

ECG is a non-invasive test where soft and sticky electrodes are attached to your chest, arms or legs.

This test reveals the heart’s electrical signals as some machine records the results on a screen or graph paper.

An ECG test may also help in detecting other aspects including any abnormalities with the heart rhythm, structural abnormalities, heart rhythm irregularities, and any other problems to do with blood and oxygen supply to your heart muscles.

Persons with fluctuating heart rhythm abnormalities may be asked by their doctor to put on 24-hour Holter monitor for the purpose of recording the electrical activity of their hearts.

One other test that your doctor may find necessary during diagnosis of low blood pressure is the echocardiogram test.

Just like the ECG test, it is also non-invasive and helps capture your chest’s ultrasound.

An echocardiogram test shows elaborate images of the structure of your heart and its function.

The echoes of ultrasound waves are recorded on a transducer after transmission.

A computer is then used to come up with moving graphics on some video monitor based on the information from the transducer.

Sometimes, your doctor may need to carry out a stress test during diagnosis of low blood pressure.

In a typical stress test, your heart is made to work a little harder as your heart is monitored with echocardiography or electrocardiography.

These tests make it possible to monitor one’s blood pressure.

One other non-invasive test used to diagnose low blood pressure is the valsalva manoeuvre which analyzes your blood pressure and heart rate.

During this test, the doctor may ask you to take a deep breath before having you blow the air out.

This helps to monitor the autonomic nervous system for any improper functioning.

The tilt table test is also used by doctors during diagnosis of low blood pressure for persons who experience low blood pressure after rising up from a sitting position.

This test is also suggested for the neurally mediated hypotension (low blood pressure arising from faulty brain signals).

Low Blood Pressure Treatment

Treatment for low blood pressure is dependent on the underlying cause of the signs and symptoms.

Always ensure that your bed’s head is slightly raised above its tail end.

Studies have confirmed that this, to some extent, helps to reduce the risk of low blood pressure.

Low Blood Pressure Statistics & Facts

Low blood pressure (also known as hypotension) only becomes a problem when it negatively impacts the body.

There is no fixed figure at which one’s blood pressure is considered to be low.

This is because the point at which individuals are diagnosed with low blood pressure varies from one person to another.

The heart’s pumping action combined with the size of arterial blood vessels puts blood under some pressure.

This is known as blood pressure.

Doctors use a sphygmomanometer to measure a patient’s blood pressure during general check up.

Treatment for low blood pressure depends on the underlying cause of the condition.

Low blood pressure could be a sign of a more serious condition yet to be diagnosed.

The condition is largely reported in persons on medications for blood pressure.

Certain drugs (such as diuretics) used to treat high blood pressure may lower your blood pressure to a very low level leading to low blood pressure.

One study has shown that drinking too much caffeine and reducing your water intake causes dehydration which consequently leads to a drop in blood pressure.

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Low Blood Pressure Treatment Remedies plus

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The contents of this app are provided for educational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. The information provided should not be considered as a substitute for the advice of a medical doctor or other healthcare professional.

What is Low Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure (also known as arterial blood pressure) refers to the measure of force exerted by circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels or the arteries.